Abrasion-resistant pipe coupling

ABSTRACT

An abrasion-resistant pipe-coupling element formed of a plastic material having inherent self-lubricating properties with an abrasion-resistant lining. The coupling construction is particularly useful in cam-locking couplings employed at the discharge conduit of bulk carriers of the type used for transporting abrasive materials such as cement, limestone, and the like.

United States Patent 72] Inventor Ronald E. Dickey 913 June Street,Fremont, Ohio 43420 [2]] App]. No. 1,394 [22] Filed Jan. 8, 1970 [45]Patented Jan. 11, 1972 [5 4]. ABRASION-RESISTANT PIPE COUPLING 8 Claims,5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 285/312, 285/ l 74 [5 1] Int. Cl Fl6l 37/00 [50] Field ofSearch 285/320, 174, 312, 423

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,478,586 8/1949 Krapp 285/3l2 2,888,277 5/1959 Melsom 285/423X 3,103,887 9/1963 Nepple... 285/423x3,124,374 3/1964 Krapp..... 285/312x 3,224,795 12/1965 Conley 285/423x3,334,860 8/l967 Bolton,.lr. 285 423x Primary Examiner-Andrew Vv KundratAttorney-Wilson & Fraser ABSTRACT: An abrasion-resistant pipe-couplingelement formed of a plastic material having inherent self-lubricatingproperties with an abrasion-resistant lining. The coupling constructionis particularly useful in cam-locking couplings employed at thedischarge conduit of bulk carriers of the type used for transportingabrasive materials such as cement, limestone, and the like.

PATENTED mu 1 m2 3633.948 SHEET 1 OF 2' I N VENTOR RONALD E D ICKEYATTORNEYS PATENTED mu 1 I972 3,633,943

sum 2 UF 2 RONALD E. DICKEY BY mm $11 ATTORNEYS ABRASION-RESISTANT PIPECOUPLING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Theinvention relates to quick-connect couplings of the type employed at thedischarge outlet of transports for bulk materials, such as cement,limestone, and the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art Quick-disconnect couplings for dischargeoutlets of transports used to transport highly abrasive and/or corrosivematerials have been formed of brass and aluminum alloys. For reasons ofeconomy, materials such as stainless steel, which could better withstandthe abrasiveness and corrosiveness of such material, could not beemployed. It has been found that the materials so used have oxidized orcorroded to such an extent that it has become nearly impossible toremove them for replacement. Further, it has been found that in theevent such couplings were dropped, the couplings were caused to becomeout of round, ofientimes to such an extent that they were renderedinoperative. Also, in cam-locking coupling structures, the cam arms werehard to close and resulted in excessive wear. Since brass and aluminumalloys are comparatively soft, the mating faces of such couplings wereeasily dented, causing a loss of desired sealing effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of the invention toprovide a pipe coupling employing a plastic material main body sectionhaving an abrasionor corrosion-resistant lining therefor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plastic quickconnectconstruction for use in connection with a cam-locking connection whereinthe coupling has a peripherally formed depression for the reception ofthe cam-locking means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plastic quickconnectconstruction having an abrasion-resistant hollow metal core about whichthe plastic is formed to confirm to the outer configuration thereof,thereby maintaining the desired dimensions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects andadvantages of the invention will become readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art from reading the following detailed description ofpreferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in the light ofthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of a cam locking pipecoupling employing the features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view partially in section of the couplingillustrated in FIG. 1 in assembled form;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the pipe-coupling adapter element of theinvention taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a modified form of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of another modified form of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3,there is illustrated a pipe coupling of the type which may be employedat the discharge conduit of a bulk-type transport vehicle, for example.The outlet conduit l0 of the transport vehicle is provided with anexternally threaded portion 12 to which is attached an internallythreaded portion 14 of a cam lock pipe-coupling adapter element 16,adapted to threadably engage with the externally threaded portion 12 ofthe outlet conduit 10. The outer peripheral surface of the portion 14 inthe region of the adapter element 16 is formed with spaced flat sections18 to engage a wrench or other tool to engage or disengage the elementI6 and the outlet conduit 10. The internal surface of the adapterelement 16 is further provided with a reduced-diameter section 20,having a cylindrical metal insert 22 disposed therein.

In a typical embodiment of the invention, the main body portion of thecoupling adapter element 16 is formed of fiber glass-reinforced nylon,such as the type manufactured and sold by Fiberfil Division of RexallChemical Company, Evan sville, Ind., under the trademark Nyglas. Thematerial has tensile strength of up to 24,000 p.s.i. Without theaddition of any supplementary lubricants, such as molybdenum disulfide,the material is inherently high in lubricity, which is extremelyadvantageous from several aspects, as will become apparent hereinafter.

The pipe-coupling'adapter element 16 is adopted to be quickly coupledand decoupled with a cam-locking coupler element 30, which is connectedto the inlet end of a flexible outlet hose 32. The coupler 30 has a pairof diametrically opposed arms 34 and 36, which are pivotally connectedto the outer surface thereof in such a fashion that the innermost camends 38 and 40, respectively, are adapted to seat in the peripherallyformed reduced-diameter portion 20 of the adapter element 16 when thecoupler element 30 is in a position to be coupled as illustrated in FIG.2. It will be observed that FIG. 2 shows the coupler 30 in a coupled orconnected relation with the adapter 16, wherein the arms 34 and 36 havebeen pivoted to a position wherein their respective cam ends 38 and 40are in a seated position in the portion 20 of the adapter 16, therebypositively locking the coupler 30 and the adapter 16. Due to theinherent lubricity of the material out of which the adapter 16 isformed, the arms 34 and 36 may be easily and readily pivoted into alocked position by a single operator. Depending on the type of fluidmaterial being conveyed through the thus-formed conduit, a gasket may beemployed to provide a further seal between the outer end of the adapter16 and the adjacent inner portion of the coupler 30.

Since the material used for fabricating the main body of the adapter 16has inherent lubricity, it can be readily unscrewed from the outletconduit 10. This may be required for a multitude of reasons, amongstwhich includes the replacement of the adapter 16. Since the material ofthe adapter 16 is inert to the corrosive effects of the ambientenvironment and the materials being conveyed therethrough, thepossibility of a buildup of corrosion between the threads of theportions 12 and 14 is extremely remote, thereby facilitatingdisconnection therebetween, if required.

It will be observed that the innermost end of the metal insert 22 isformed to have a flared end 24 facilitating the desired coupling betweenthe associated adapter 16 and the outlet conduit 10 to primarily effectthe desired sealing relationship and to militate against the abrasivecontact between the transient fluid material and the plastic material ofthe adapter. The insert 22 is preferably formed of a steel having a highcarbon content to render the same resistant to abrasive and corrosiveeffect of the transient fluids.

In fabricating the adapter 16, the metal insert 22 is disposed in asuitable die mold arrangement and thereafter the plastic materialcontaining the fiber glass reinforcing medium is injected in a fluidstate thereinto to completely surround the outer peripheral wall surfaceof the insert. During the curing of the plastic material, the materialin effect shrinks slightly and assumes the general cylindrical shape ofthe insert. It is believed to be important that the configuration of theouter peripheral wall of the adapter 16 is cylindrical and generallyannular or circular in cross section so that the finished element willbe readily and easily received within the cylindrical interior of thecoupler element 30.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified form of the invention wherein the metalinsert 22 is provided with a flared inner end section 24 and acontinuing threaded section 26. The threaded section 26' may be employedin certain applications where the assembly is to be used with fluidswhich may react with or have a corrosive effect upon the plasticmaterial making up the main body of the associated adapter.

FIG. 5 illustrates another modified form of the invention wherein themetal insert 22" is provided with a flared inner section 24" and anoppositely disposed flared end 28", which forms a protection for the endof the adapter 16 which ac- 3 tually physically contacts the innerportion of the associated coupler.

While the major objectives of the invention are achieved by theabove-described structures, the adapter 16 may also be initially formedin any of the well-known molding techniques and then have the innerperipheral wall surface coated with a polyurethane plastic materialwhich resultant structure would be useful for conveying dry mixes; orcoated with a Teflon plastic material for conveying highly corrosiveliquids such as acids, for example.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, l haveexplained the principle and mode of operation of my invention and haveillustrated and described what I now consider to represent its bestembodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated anddescribed without departing from its spirit or scope.

I claim: I

l. A pipe coupling for a hollow cylindrical cam-locking coupler element,comprising:

a hollow cylindrical adapter element for coupling to the couplerelement, said adapter element formed of a plastics material, the outerperipheral surface of one end portion of said adapter element havingcam-receiving means formed therein, the outer peripheral surface of theother end portion of said adapter element having surfaces formed thereonadapted for the engagement of a tool for rotationally moving saidadapted element, the inner peripheral surface of said one end of saidadapter element being relatively smooth, the inner peripheral surface ofsaid other end of said adapter element having internal threadsintegrally formed thereon, a shoulder formed on the inner peripheralsurface of said adapter element inter-- mediate the smooth innerperipheral surface of said one end and the internal threads of saidother end; and an abrasion-resistant sleeve in juxtaposed relation withthe smooth inner peripheral wall surface of said one end of said adapterelement, said sleeve having a flared end, the outer surface of saidflared end disposed adjacent to the shoulder on the inner peripheralsurface of said adapter element. 2. The invention defined in claim 1wherein said plastic material has inherent lubricity.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said plastic material isnylon.

4. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said plastic materialincludes fiber glass reinforcement.

5. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is formed ofsteel.

6. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said camreceiving means isin the form of an annular groove.

7. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is polyurethane.

8. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is Teflon.

1. A pipe coupling for a hollow cylindrical cam-locking coupler element,comprising: a hollow cylindrical adapter element for coupling to thecoupler element, said adapter element formed of a plastics material, theouter peripheral surface of one end portion of said adapter elementhaving cam-receiving means formed therein, the outer peripheral surfaceof the other end portion of said adapter element having surfaces formedthereon adapted for the engagement of a tool for rotationally movingsaid adapted element, the inner peripheral surface of said one end ofsaid adapter element being relatively smooth, the inner peripheralsurface of said other end of said adapter element having internalthreads integrally formed thereon, a shoulder formed on the innerperipheral surface of said adapter element intermediate the smooth innerperipheral surface of said one end and the internal threads of saidother end; and an abrasion-resistant sleeve in juxtaposed relation withthe smooth inner peripheral wall surface of said one end of said adapterelement, said sleeve having a flared end, the outer surface of saidflared end disposed adjacent to the shoulder on the inner peripheralsurface of said adapter element.
 2. The invention defined in claim 1wherein said plastic material has inherent lubricity.
 3. The inventiondefined in claim 1 wherein said plastic material is nylon.
 4. Theinvention defined in claim 1 wherein said plastic material includesfiber glass reinforcement.
 5. The invention defined in claim 1 whereinsaid sleeve is formed of steel.
 6. The invention defined in claim 1wherein said cam-receiving means is in the form of an annular groove. 7.The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is polyurethane. 8.The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is Teflon.